Comega Building
The Comega Building is located on 222 Avenida Corrientes in the corner of Alem Avenue, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
History
It was the first skyscraper built in Argentina and the first reinforced concrete of the city to show an outer fully lined with travertine. Its construction, rationalist style, was built between 1931 and 1934 on a project by architects Enrique and Alfredo Joselevich Douillet.
It was installed by custom and Livestock Trading Company SA (COMEGA), in a privileged area which previously had occupied the residence of Francisco Madero, then transformed into Grand National Hotel.
In his time rivaled another giant, Building SAFICO also rationalist style, and 200 meters west was built, also on Corrientes Avenue. In 1936 the Kavanagh building long surpass both in height.
At the opening had been planning a 19th floor for collective use and assembly. But the place was soon allocated for the confectionery known restaurant "Comega Club", which ran until 1969 That place was specially prepared for major events that could be seen from a height, as the arrival in 1934 of the dirigible Graf Zeppelin was installed, Carlos Gardel's funeral in February 1936, and the final extension that became the Corrientes avenue, in 1937 settled in 2000 on the same site a new restaurant, and from 2004 the Restaurant-Café "A222 ", which closed in early 2012.
A great singularity were five elevators, as was the first of Buenos Aires to have the fastest, able to climb 180 meters per minute. He also owned a hair salon in one of their homes, attending the office occupants.
Declared architectural heritage of the city, was recently renewed and has most of the art services.
Description
Since its opening, one of the great attractions of Comega was its strategic location. The corner of Avenida Corrientes and Avenida Leandro N. Alem, near the Stock Exchange, the Government House and other public offices, and headquarters of major exporters.
Since it can be seen, among other things, the neighborhood of Puerto Madero, the Ecological Reserve, the Rio de la Plata. Much further away, can also be seen the silhouette of the city of Colonia (Uruguay), and some buildings in the city of Quilmes.
Its exterior is straight edges and is devoid of ornaments. It consists of two side volumes and higher multi-storey central tower of 21 floors and 88 meters high. Together define a central open courtyard, Avenida Leandro N. Alem. It also has two underground garage.
Interiors feature granite cladding and stainless steel counters, an extremely novel and expensive for its time.